Brewing a steaming pot of java to sip slowly over the course of a lazy Sunday is one of life’s great pleasures. But downing a quick cup to start a hectic workday morning is an equally vital activity.

Here are the 10 best single cup coffee makers so you can get that caffeine in your bloodstream swiftly and efficiently without sacrificing great coffee.

TOP PICK: Keurig K55 Coffee Machine

The K55 is a bestseller for convenient, quality coffee. And since the introduction of the reusable My K-Cup capsules the environmental impact is no longer a huge issue. At a reasonable price, this machine gives a consistent and reliable cup for home baristas who need a quick cup in the morning.

What To Consider Before You Buy A Single Cup Coffee Maker

Electric Or Gravity-Powered?

Single cup coffee brewers can be broadly divided into two categories: electric machines, and gravity-powered options that allow time or air pressure to percolate your grounds and aid extraction. We’re still talking fairly quick and convenient coffee options – if you’d rather take a little more time and care, check out this list of drip coffee maker reviews.

For the easiest machines to operate even in that early morning fog, go electric

For travel or camping trips and with no risk of breakdown, go for gravity-powered

For a machine that will heat the water for you, go for electric. This may seem obvious, but if you’re going with one of the gravity and pressure-powered options, you’ll need a way to heat the water.

To K-Cup Or Not To K-Cup?

Keurig’s introduction of the K-Cup, and subsequent imitations revolutionized the single cup coffee game in both positive and negative ways.

The biggest advantages of using K-cups are that they provide consistent brewing (no errors) with a variety of flavors (feel like hot chocolate today?) The biggest disadvantages of using them, however, is poor quality coffee, and they have a large negative environmental impact.

Besides this, and interestingly enough; they cost more! K-Cups often cost around $27 per pound of coffee, much more than you’d pay for the same quality of coffee as whole beans or grounds.

How did we get this figure? Math. A pack of 24 K-Cups pack costs around $16, each K-Cup pod contains an average of 11 grams of coffee. That’s 264 grams of coffee, which works out to $27.50/pound

A great alternative to K-Cups or pods is a refillable insert like the My K-Cup – they allow you to fill your own capsule with the coffee and grind of your choice. Many of the companies producing capsule machines are also at work on research to address their environmental issues. Also, Keurig has recently introduced some recyclable c​​apsules.

If all this convinces you to choose a single-serve coffee maker that works with ground coffee, there's a world of beautiful beans waiting for you out there.

Coffee Pods Vs. Coffee Capsules

Though many reviewers and some brands use the terms pod and capsule interchangeably, they, in fact, refer to two distinct coffee ground containers.

Capsules are the small plastic cups favored by Keurig and Nespresso, among others. When slotted into a machine, the machine pierces them before running hot pressurized hot water through the capsule.

Coffee capsules

Coffee capsules - Capsules are convenient and they are sealed, meaning their contents stay a little fresher over long periods of time – if you are a sporadic coffee drinker, choose capsules.

Coffee pods

Coffee pods - Pods are round bags of ground coffee that look a lot like large tea bags. They are more often biodegradable and come in a standard size that allows them to be used with a variety of machines. However, because they contain coffee grounds that are exposed to the air and con​​taminants, they will lose their flavor faster than capsules.

The Best Single Serve Coffee Makers Of 2019

Now that we've given you some points on what to consider when buying single-serve coffee makers, here are our top choices:

Keurig’s flagship machine, now updated from the original, continues to be an Amazon number one best seller. The K55 is their mid-level model and it offers everything the home or office brewer could want at a very reasonable mid-level price. It's far better value for money than the Keurig k575 model.

The 48-ounce water reservoir can brew up to 6 cups of coffee before needing a refill, getting you through the work week and increasing efficiency on those hectic mornings. Handy features such as a removable drip tray make cleaning easy.

PROS

A proven track record – it’s been an Amazon Number 1

One Best Seller for multiple years running

Convenient, consistent, and reliable for busy mornings

CONS

Requires K-Cup capsules (can be expensive and most aren’t recyclable)

Stays powered on for a long time while idle

BEST SUITED FOR: The home barista looking for a consistent and fast cup.

Specifications:

The Nespresso Pixie is a higher-end model that produces a barista-style result thanks to a high-pressure pump that fully extracts the flavor of the coffee beans. This is a great little espresso maker.

What else do you get for the extra investment? A machine that can be programmed to dispense just the strength and volume of coffee you want – if you just can’t make it to your local barista and you’re willing to compromise for a fast, simple alternative, this is your best bet.

PROS

High-pressure pump (19-bar) yields barista-style results

Heats water from water tank extremely fast – in only 25 seconds

Programmable so you can get exactly the strength and size of coffee you want

Shut off occurs after 9 minutes to minimize energy use

CONS

Requires Nespresso capsules

Coffee choice restricted to the capsules available

BEST SUITED FOR: The coffee lover who just doesn’t have the time (or money) for a home espresso machine, but wishes that they did.

Specifications:

The Ninja Coffee Bar brewing system is a capsule-free system that caters to those looking for more than just a simple cup. This little powerhouse offers all the tools needed to craft hot or cold espresso beverages with a built-in frother and custom brew sizes and styles.

By opting out of the capsule systems, Ninja Coffee Bar users gain the flexibility of strength control. You can customize your beverage by using any coffee brand, quantity, and grind. We take a look at other ninja coffee bar systems here if you like this brand.

PROS

Can craft any beverage (hot or cold, black or with milk and foam)

Capsule-free for the greatest flexibility, higher quality coffee (should you so choose) and a smaller environmental impact

Four custom brew sizes including a new XL

CONS

A lot of plastic used in construction means less durability

BEST SUITED FOR: The coffee (or tea!) enthusiast who wants a little variety in their beverages but doesn’t like the idea of capsules.

Specifications:

The AdirChef Grab N’ Go Coffee Maker is a simple coffee-delivery system with a tiny footprint. It’s perfect for tight kitchens with limited counter space or office cubicles.

Though simple, this single-serve coffee machine is well-built and well-designed. It won’t break on you, and neither will the included stainless-steel travel mug – this brewer is very affordable and will work for years.

As with the Ninja, this capsule-less system offers the user complete freedom when it comes to selecting beans and grind. The built-in filter is a boon to both the environment and your wallet – no buying filters or throwing out used ones.

PROS

Tiny and light enough to be easily portable

Comes with a stainless-steel travel mug

A permanent filter means less waste

The parts are dishwasher-safe!

CONS

Works best with accompanying 15-oz. travel mug (though others fit)

Not as good for brewing other beverages

BEST SUITED FOR: The minimalist – on the road, in the office or at home, you keep it real simple but like your coffee fresh.

Specifications:

The introduction of the Aeropress brewing system took the coffee world by storm in 2005, thanks to the remarkable quality and flavor of coffee being extracted. It was designed by the head of a frisbee company who wanted to engineer the perfect cup of coffee (no, really!). Its simple design belies the complex nuances of flavor achieved.

It operates much like a French press. Pour hot water over grounds and then push the coffee through a microfilter. Unlike a French press, however, the microfilter ensures there are no gritty remnants in your cup, or in the press. You can also use it as an espresso maker with a little creativity. Clean up is quick and easy.

The Aeropress is great for travel, and has found a particular fanbase among campers and backpackers. It requires no electricity, brews a cup in only a minute, packs down smaller than a travel mug, and is durable enough to survive being crammed in the bottom of a backpack.

To see what it looks like in action, check out this video from Stumptown Coffee Roasters (yeah, this is the 5-minute explanation, but it’s worth it and we like it):

PROS

Known for the incredible flavor of resultant brewed coffee

Simple design and no electricity required

Only takes one minute to brew a cup (and you can brew for multiple cup sizes)

The Oomph coffee brewer is a bit like the younger cousin of the Aeropress. It makes rich, high-quality coffee using a combination of steeping and hand pressure, and it’s amazingly convenient, especially if you’re on-the-go or travelling.

It’s much like the classic Aeropress, but with some key differences. Rather than having a bunch of parts to keep track of, the Oomph gives you everything in one container - from brewing to drinking. The Oomph uses gravity for the first part of the extraction process, while the Aeropress allows the coffee to steep.

The Oomph also might be a little more stylish – though the Aeropress is better-known and has won some barista championships, some say it looks clunky. Debate as you will. We’ll be here, drinking great coffee from both of them.

Specifications:

If the Oomph is a portable coffee brewer that hints at a pour over, the Coffee Gator takes it all the way. It’s a coffee mug and brewer in one – take off the lid, throw on the pour over filter, and you’re brewing. The filter is stainless steel mesh, so there’s no need for any paper waste, and it makes a great, clean cup of coffee.

If you need pour over on the road, we’d recommend grabbing the Coffee Gator – it’s a sturdy, all-in-one system. Pour over coffee makers like these are great single serve options that provide high quality coffee fast.

PROS

Pour over quality coffee

Stainless steel reusable filter

Mug keeps coffee hot for hours

CONS

Takes some pour over technique to brew well

BEST SUITED FOR: The pour-over coffee lover who wants a simple single serve setup to take on the road.

Specifications:

The cheapest, smallest, lightest, and easiest pod coffee maker on this list is Primula’s Brew Buddy. Essentially a pour-over method with a reusable filter, the Brew Buddy is an eco-friendly option for the traveling coffee fanatic.

It is small enough to fit in your pocket and will never break. Its near-universal design means it works with almost any coffee cup. Its simplicity allows for limitless flexibility in choice of beans, size of grind, and quantity of water so you can have your coffee just how you like it.

PROS

Very inexpensive

Small, light and easily portable

Will not break

Does not require the purchase of filters or capsules

CONS

Only makes drip-style coffee, no espresso

BEST SUITED FOR: The coffee connoisseur who’s on the move and on a budget.

Specifications:

Coffee maker type: Gravity-powered – capsule-free

Known for: Lightweight, tiny and pretty much invincible. Never be without great coffee.

With the option of brewing directly into a travel mug, the Hamilton Beach Single-Serve coffee maker, which the manufacturer calls "the Scoop," is clearly bidding to be a rushed morning's new best friend.

And it's fast: an 8-oz. cup brews in 90 seconds, and a 14-oz. travel mug two and a half minutes.

But the brew speed isn't the only way "the Scoop" helps get you out the door in a hurry: the stainless-steel filter is the measuring scoop, literally - measure the ground coffee in the included scoop, slip the scoop into the coffee maker, make sure you've got water, and push the button. No filter papers, no pods, no capsules.

There's a switch for "Regular" and "Bold" brewing, where "Bold" is recommended for more finely-ground coffee.

PROS

Use your choice of ground coffee

Stainless steel reusable filter/scoop simplifies brewing

Drip tray raises/lowers to fit 14-oz. travel mug or standard cup

CONS

Overfilling the coffee filter can result in spills

BEST SUITED FOR: Rushed caffeinistas who want to use their favorite ground coffee on the go.

Specifications:

Versatility is the Bunn MCU's genius feature. The key is their "drawer" system for different brewing methods.

There's the Cup Drawer, which is compatible with K-cups (or any capsules from 45 to 61 mm) for coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. The Ground Coffee drawer lets you use your favorite ground coffee. It has a larger capacity than other machines in this class, so you can bump the coffee-to-water ratio.

Like soft pods? There's, you guessed it, a Pod Drawer for soft coffee pods. There's even a Water Drawer, designed to dispense hot water for instant cereal or soup, baby bottles, etc. Oh, and the water reservoir is kept at 200 degrees F, the right temperature for flavor extraction. One feature made for coffee lovers: the Pulse function starts and stops the flow of hot water over the coffee grounds (or pod or capsule), allowing for more complete infusion during brewing.

PROS

Use pods, ground coffee, K-cups, or hot water

Stainless steel reusable filter in Ground Coffee drawer

Pulse function emulates timed pours in pour over brewing

CONS

Ground Coffee drawer hard to clean

BEST SUITED FOR: Coffee lovers who like to vary their sources for the blessed bean

Specifications:

THE VERDICT: What’s The Best Single Cup Coffee Maker For You?

Any of these great products could fulfill the needs of an average home brewer as each delivers a great cup of coffee, but the overall best single serve machine can be no other than the Keurig K55.

This grandfather of the single-cup industry has been a consistent best seller from the outset for a good reason. Unless you’re looking for a coffee maker to take off the grid, this trusty machine does it all but doesn’t break the bank.

Alex

Alex is the Founder and Editor of Homegrounds.co. He is passionate about brewing amazing coffee at home, and teaching others to do the same.

About HomeGrounds

We are obsessed with great coffee - and since you've ended up here, we can only assume that you are too! Our goal is simple - to continue to learn about speciality coffee, develop our home brewing skills, and to share what we learn about it with the you and the rest of the world.

HomeGrounds.co is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

That being said, we only recommend products that we truly believe will make your coffee journey more pleasurable!